Alameda Voices: Frugal Living, Pesky Pounds, SF Bay Ferry Center at Alameda Point

Alameda Patch has an active and varied group of local bloggers who write about issues ranging from wildlife to politics. Here's a look at some of this week's posts by talented bloggers who live or work in Alameda.

Plans for SF Bay Ferry Maintenance Facility at Alameda Point

Blogger Richard Bangert alerted readers to a public hearing Monday, Jan. 6, on a proposed operations center and and maintenance facility for the San Francisco Bay Ferry system at Alameda Point. The proposal calls for a four-story, 70-foot-tall building and berthing facilities for 12 ferries, separated by a 13,500 sq. ft. yard. The design review board of the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) will be taking an early look at plans for the facility.

Bangert notes in his blog post that the project would eliminate a dock currently used by harbor seals as a "haul-out," or resting place. 

Read the complete blog post and see sketches of the proposed facility at "Alameda Point Ferry Facility Hearing - January 6th."

You can also read a report on the proposal by BCDC staff here.

Frugal Living

Is it possible to go for an entire year without buying anything new except for essentials like food? One Alameda family intends to find out.

"A Year of Living Simply" launched Thursday, and the blogger (a long-time Alameda resident who has chosen to write anonymously for this project) plans to post weekly updates. 

Read about their reasons for switching to inconspicuous consumption and their plans for how they will manage in "Week 1: Beyond Buying - Our Journey Begins."

Just for Fun

Jennifer Loring, who has written a number of freelance articles for Alameda Patch in the past, recently turned her sights on the Internet's quirks and treasures. In her periodic blog, "The Nootsmaak," she ferrets out some of the best and most entertaining tidbits on the Web.

This week she takes on those New Year's resolutions to get fit, lose weight and eat a healthier diet. There's also a don't-miss bonus about the secret lives of tigers. Check it out at "Best of the Interwebs - Happy 2014!"

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